A network analysis of core symptoms in menopausal syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Menopausal symptoms are common during the menopausal transition and can substantially affect women's physical and psychological health. These symptoms often co-occur and interact, but their complex interrelationships and the symptoms that play central roles within the symptom network remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Explore the network structure of menopausal syndrome and identify core symptoms.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 402 perimenopausal women aged 40-60 years in Shanghai, China, November 2023 to April 2024. The Greene scale was used for evaluation. Perform a network analysis to identify core symptoms.

RESULTS

Irritability, fatigue and hot flashes were the highest central values in the menopausal symptom network, indicating that they were the core symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Irritability, fatigue and hot flashes were identified as central symptoms in the menopausal symptom network. These findings may inform clinical symptom assessment and future research on symptom management.